The District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), Dimapur, has issued a public safety advisory warning residents against entering ring wells, deep wells and other confined spaces for cleaning, repair or maintenance without adequate safety arrangements and assistance from trained personnel.
The advisory follows two reported well-related incidents in the district, including the deaths of two persons who were reportedly cleaning a deep ring well at a neighbour’s residence in Oriental Colony in October 2026. In another incident on October 9, 2025, the body of a 55-year-old man was retrieved from a ring well at Rangapahar, near 3 Mile, Dimapur. The latter incident was suspected to have involved suffocation due to methane gas inhalation.
In view of these tragic incidents, Deputy Commissioner and DDMA Dimapur Chairman Dr. Tinojongshi Chang, NCS, has urged the public to strictly observe safety precautions while undertaking well-cleaning and maintenance activities.
The advisory cautioned that wells and other confined spaces may contain dangerously low levels of oxygen or toxic gases, potentially causing sudden unconsciousness or death without warning. It stressed that no one should enter a well without proper safety arrangements and professional assistance.
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The DDMA also warned against attempting untrained rescue operations when a person collapses or becomes unconscious inside a well. Instead, members of the public have been advised to immediately alert emergency response authorities, as entering a confined space without appropriate equipment could endanger additional lives.
The authority stressed that trained and properly equipped personnel must be engaged for cleaning, inspection, repair and maintenance of wells. Gas testing and adequate ventilation must be ensured before any authorised entry, and the atmosphere inside the well must be checked for oxygen deficiency and hazardous gases.
It further cautioned the public against assuming that the air inside a well is safe simply because no unusual smell is detected.
Residents have also been urged to keep children and unauthorised persons away from open wells and well-cleaning sites to prevent accidental falls and other mishaps.
In case of emergencies, the public may contact the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) at 17000806142 or DDMA Dimapur at 8131924008. Residents have been advised to keep the surrounding area clear and ensure unobstructed access for emergency response and rescue personnel.
Emphasising that well-cleaning and maintenance must never be undertaken without adequate safety measures and trained personnel, the DDMA stated that no cleaning or maintenance work is worth risking human life.
